Murray resigned his post as minister of Training, Colleges and Universities in a phone call to outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty on Saturday morning, clearing the way for the announcement.
The 55-year-old, who is openly gay, said in an interview with the Star that his experience as mayor of Winnipeg for six years ending in 2004 and two years in cabinet qualify him for the province’s top post.
“The next premier has to be job-ready on day one,” said Murray, insisting his sexual orientation would not be disadvantage in a general election, widely expected next spring.
“I got elected in places where there were a heck of a lot more gun racks than gays,” Murray said in a nod to his Winnipeg years. “I really believe Ontarians measure people by their character.”
Murray is the second candidate in the race after Kathleen Wynne —an openly lesbian former Toronto school trustee — quit Friday as minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Aboriginal Affairs.
Her campaign kick-off is Monday, leaving Murray room to grab the weekend spotlight as the first contender to reveal specifics on how he would run the province after the Jan. 25-27 leadership convention at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Murray, elected the MPP for Toronto Centre in a 2010 by-election after George Smitherman quit to unsuccessfully run for mayor of Toronto, said his tax cuts would be aimed at the middle class and small businesses.
He wouldn’t reveal details on how to pay for the cuts and “no money down tuition” as the province struggles to eliminate a $14.4 billion deficit, but pledged they would be offset with revenues. He promised specifics Sunday.
The tuition breaks would go beyond the minority Liberal government’s existing 30 per cent relief for students from families with incomes below $160,000.
“You’ll be able to do seven years without paying,” Murray said of the plan, which he dubbed essential to boosting the economy by investing in people.
“I’d like to be known as the jobs and prosperity premier,” he added, echoing a theme being pushed hard by Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, whose party is highly critical of the McGuinty administration for the more than 600,000 Ontarians looking for work.
Murray revealed his resignation on Twitter, where previous postings have gotten him into trouble.
He unconditionally apologized to the Progressive Conservatives in 2010 following two days of controversy for accusing them of being anti-gay in a Tweet that slammed Hudak, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of “Republican-style, right wing ignorance and bigotry.”
More candidates are expected to enter the Liberal race in the coming week.
Supporters of former McGuinty education minister and defeated Parkdale-High Park MP Gerard Kennedy held a “draft” meeting Saturday in the basement meeting room of a west-end seniors’ home, attracting almost 80 potential volunteers.
Kennedy was not there, meeting with MPPs in Ottawa to solicit their backing, but “he wanted to see how much ground support he could get,” said organizer Peter Sesek, who had attendees fill out contact forms.
“We’re very happy,” he said, adding Kennedy will decide in the next few days.
The meeting hinted at fractures in the party.
After a woman stood up to say she was “discouraged and disgusted” by the McGuinty government’s wage freeze bill that limited teachers’ bargaining rights, former area MPP David Fleet told the crowd: “Respect for others in bargaining and otherwise, that’s what Gerard is all about.”
Wynne has also distanced herself from the teacher bill and the premier’s controversial decision to prorogue the legislature until a new party leader is chosen.
With Murray out of cabinet, McGuinty, said in a statement he will task Community and Social Services Minister John Milloy to take on the extra duties.
Also considering leadership bids are former cabinet minister Sandra Pupatello, 50, Health Minister Deb Matthews, 58, Children and Youth Services Minister Eric Hoskins, 52, and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Charles Sousa, 54.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Rob Ferguson
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